Rector’s Daily Reflections
Monday 4th March 2024
Learning More About Prayer
Last Friday, I wrote about one of the ways in which we can prepare ourselves for a fruitful time of prayer. This method of preparation involves spending some time thinking about God and our relationship with Him. I think this method comes more easily to some people than to others. So what other methods might we use to prepare ourselves for our time of prayer?
One method focusses not on our minds, but on our bodies.
I think it can be helpful to adopt a physical posture which we find comfortable - this might involve sitting in a comfortable chair, or perhaps kneeling on a stool or kneeler. Sometimes it is suggested that we shouldn’t make ourselves too comfortable, as if we do, we’ll soon fall asleep! But perhaps in such an instance, our sleep is in fact our prayer: we need the rest, and God gives us the sleep He knows we need.
I would add that different physical postures work for different people - we don’t have to sit or kneel when we pray. Some people find it better to stand.
I think it is often helpful to calm our breathing before we start to pray: we pause and take a few slow and deep breaths. There are also other ways in which we can calm our bodies down – for example, some people find it helpful to go for a gentle walk, or to spend time in a quiet place listening to the sounds all around us.
And some people find it helpful to continue some repetitive physical activity while they pray. The sort of activity I have in mind is something which we can do automatically without thinking about it. I’m not a knitter, but I think an experienced knitting can probably continue with their knitting while watching the TV and holding a conversation, in much the same way that when we go for a walk, we put one leg in front of the other without giving the process a second thought. Some people use prayer beads, which they hold or move while they pray. There is something about a simple repetitive action which can help us to settle down and focus on the real task in hand: the task of preparing our minds and our bodies for a time of encounter with God.
Some writing on spirituality can forget that God has given us a body as well as a mind. Our physical bodies can and should help us draw closer to God and deepen our relationship with Him. How might we pray with our bodies? What works best for you?